Ill. gov. wants appeal of concealed carry ruling

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Pat Quinn wants the state's attorney general to appeal a federal court ruling that Illinois' concealed carry ban is unconstitutional. An appeal would put the matter before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Illinois is the only state with such a ban. Quinn said Wednesday that an appeal is Illinois' "only hope" of maintaining it.

Gun-rights advocates have argued that the prohibition violates the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment.

In December, a three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Illinois' ban and gave lawmakers until June 8 to legalize the concealed carry of firearms.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan disagrees with Quinn. She told reporters Wednesday that she wants to see what lawmakers will do before considering an appeal.

Both Quinn and Madigan support an assault weapons ban.